Cantonment Couple Involved In Crash With School Bus
April 16, 2011
Two Cantonment residents were involved in a crash with a loaded school bus Friday afternoon in Pensacola.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Marvin Beck, 77, was northbound on Pine Forest Road near West Detroit Boulevard about 3 p.m. when he changed lanes into the path of a northbound school bus driven by James Burleson, 32, of Pensacola.
The school bus driver and 28 students on the bus were uninjured. A passenger in Beck’s vehicle, Laura Beck, 75, of Cantonment, was also uninjured.
Beck was charged with improper/unsafe change of lane in the accident that caused little damage to the bus or Beck’s Nissan.
Math-A-Thon Adds Up: Bratt Elementary Raises $2,300 For St. Jude Children’s Hospital
April 16, 2011
The students at Bratt Elementary School raised just over $2,300 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital by participating in the Math-A-Thon program.
The Math-A-Thon program includes a free math curriculum supplement for grades K-8 that students complete after obtaining sponsorships from family and friends.
The funds raised by the students benefit St. Jude, where doctors and scientists work to eradicate childhood cancer and other catastrophic childhood diseases.
St. Jude designed Math-A-Thon to supplement a teacher’s existing curriculum, while also teaching students the importance of helping others. To participate, students ask family and friends for pledges to solve math problems in the Math-A-Thon Funbook.
Dirty Car? Get It Washed Today In Century
April 16, 2011
Have a dirty car?
Northview High School’s NJROTC will hold a car wash today from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Whataburger in Century. Donations will be accepted. Proceeds from the car was will help pay for summer leadership camps for the cadets in the program. Organizers invite everyone to stop by and support the Northview NJROTC.
House Votes To Repeal Mandatory Septic Inspections
April 16, 2011
The Florida House voted overwhelmingly on Friday to repeal a program mandating septic tank inspections that was passed as part of a springs protection bill last year. The measure passed 110-3.
Backers said the inspection requirement, which was crafted last year in the Senate, created an undue financial burden on septic tank owners and its sponsor, Rep. Marti Coley, R-Marianna, also said it was a property rights issue. The state has overstepped in requiring the inspections, she said.
“Every day, citizens lose personal property rights,” said Coley.
Voting against the bill were Reps. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda, D-Tallahassee, Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth and Mark Pafford, D-West Palm Beach. The bill (HB 13) still needs Senate approval.
Evers’ Open Carry Gun Bill Passes Senate Committee
April 16, 2011
An open carry law opposed by law enforcement and backed heavily by the National Rifle Association passed the Senate Rules Committee Friday on an 8-4 vote, but some committee members said their support may evaporate on the floor.
The measure sponsored by Rep. Greg Evers allows people with concealed license permits to carry their guns in full view in stores but not at schools and other prohibited areas.
The bill now travels to the floor. The House version was approved by the House Judiciary Committee and awaits action on the floor.
By The Numbers: Using Fertilizer On Your Lawn
April 16, 2011
Many people think a beautiful lawn is unattainable, but that is not necessarily true. A good lawn can be achieved if you develop a good understanding of proper fertilization, watering, pest control and mowing.
Larry Williams, Horticulture Extension Agent in Okaloosa County, provides some basic facts relating to fertilizing a Florida lawn:
Many popular lawn fertilizers have too much nitrogen and too little potassium. A common example is 29‐3‐4. These numbers represent the percent nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), respectively. A 29‐3‐4 fertilizer has a lot more nitrogen (29%) than potassium (4%). Despite the fact it’s readily available, it’s not a good choice for a Florida lawn.
It’s better to select a fertilizer where the first and third numbers are equal or close to equal and the center number is very low. A few examples found locally include 15‐0‐15, 16‐2‐16 and 18‐0‐18.
You may be able to produce an attractive lawn for three, four, five years or so using a high nitrogen and low potassium fertilizer such as 29‐3‐4. But at some point in time, your lawn will begin to decline. This is the misleading part. When the lawn begins to deteriorate, most people blame mole crickets or something else. They never realize the true cause for the decline in their lawn. The excess nitrogen creates a nice green lawn short term (for a few years). But the lawn needs adequate amounts of potassium and other essential plant nutrients, which are not provided by a 29‐3‐4 or similar analysis fertilizer. As a result, the lawn declines with time.
Of the three primary nutrients (N, P and K), potassium is second only to nitrogen in utilization by lawns. Adequate potassium has been linked to reduced disease problems,
improved drought and cold tolerance and enhanced root growth.
Lawn grasses use much less phosphorus (center number) than nitrogen and/or potassium. Because of this and because phosphorus has been implicated as a cause for
problems in our surface waters, it’s recommended to base phosphorus rates on the results of a reliable soil test. In the absence of a soil test, select a fertilizer with 2% or less phosphorus. For a newly planted lawn, choose something like 8‐4‐8 or 10‐4‐10 when a soil test indicates a need for extra phosphorus.
Finally, look for slow release lawn fertilizers. It’s best to purchase a lawn fertilizer with at least half the nitrogen in a slow release form. Usually in very small print beneath the guaranteed analysis you can find a statement about the amount of slow release nitrogen. The words water insoluble, slowly available or slowly available soluble nitrogen or coated are types of slow‐release nitrogen.
Then, some calculations are necessary. If, for example a 10‐10‐10 fertilizer says it contains 5% slow‐release nitrogen, divide the 5% by the total percent of nitrogen (10% in this example) and multiply by 100 to get the percentage of nitrogen that is in slow-release form. In this example it is 5/10 x 100=50%.
Choosing a fertilizer with the right numbers is an important part of maintaining a healthy long lasting Florida lawn. For additional information on this topic, contact your
local UF/IFAS Extension Office or visit http://hort.ufl.edu/yourfloridalawn/ .
Thrower Announces He Will Seek Atmore Mayor’s Office In 2012
April 16, 2011
Just days after Atmore Mayor Howard Shell announced that he will not seek re-election in 2012, a local resident has committed to seeking the office.
Chad Thrower, a gaming agent at the Poarch Creek Indians Tribal Gaming Commission, announced this week on his Facebook page that he has committed to compete in the 2012 mayor’s race.
“We must find ways to bring in more manufacturing companies and grow our retail and service industries as well,” Thrower said. “Once we accomplish that and fight to keep the businesses here we can start an economic cycle of prosperity for Atmore.”
Thower, 27, said he also has an issue with the “massive debt the city has assumed by purchasing the Rivercane property”.
Thrower is currently politically active with Congressman Ron Paul’s Campaign for Liberty organization. He currently manages six counties, including Escambia, as the group’s Alabama Campaign for Liberty Region I Coordinator.
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Sheriff’s Office Plans Cantonment Clean Sweep For Saturday
April 15, 2011
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and International Paper will host an “Operation Clean Sweep” event Saturday at the Carver Park at 208 Webb Street in Cantonment.
International Paper will provide lunch for volunteers and neighbors in Carver Park, as well as distributing backpacks and Frisbees for neighborhood children. The event begins at 8 a.m.
The focus of “Operation Clean Sweep” is to work with neighborhood watch groups, residents, churches and business owners to control and prevent the damaging effects of criminal activity through eradication, enforcement and education.
The Operation Task Force works closely with Escambia County Animal Control, Environmental Law Enforcement, the United States military, Escambia County Roads and Bridges and neighborhood watch groups to clean up neighborhoods and educate citizens on preventive measures that could be implemented to minimize possible crimes.
For more information on future clean ups, or to volunteer, contact P.O.C. Captain Tharp (850) 554-1384 or Deputy Wiggins (850) 554-1362. For more information on starting a neighborhood watch in your community, or to join an existing group, call David Craig (850) 436-9281 or visit escambiaso.com.
Pictured top: An Escambia County deputy operates a radar gun during a recent Clean Sweep in Cottage Hill. Pictured below: Marines clean trash from alongside Williams Ditch Road during the sweep. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Woman Hospitalized Following Dog Attack
April 15, 2011
A Molino woman is recovering after being attacked by two large dogs Friday afternoon.
The incident happened about 2:15 p.m. outside a home in the 5000 block of Chestnut Road in Molino. The woman, who was in her 60’s, suffered bites to her legs, arms and back, according to Deputy Chris Welborn, spokesperson for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
She was transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. Her name and condition were not available.
The dogs, which were described as “large and aggressive”, were later captured by Escambia County Animal Control. They will be quarantined at the Escambia County Animal Shelter.
After the attack, the woman managed to retreat back inside the home.
Her cat was reportedly killed by the dogs.
Tornado Watch; Severe Storms Possible
April 15, 2011
A tornado watch is in effect for the entire North Escambia area until 3 a.m. A line of showers and thunderstorms will move through the area with a moderate risk of severe storms, possibly with strong straight line winds, hail and isolated tornadoes, according to the National Weather Service.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 7pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 7pm and 1am, then isolated showers after 1am. Some of the storms could be severe. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 57. Southwest wind between 5 and 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 77. West wind between 5 and 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
- Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 45. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 77. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph.
- Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 46. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Monday: Sunny, with a high near 81. Calm wind becoming south between 10 and 15 mph.
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 63. South wind between 5 and 15 mph.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. Breezy, with a south wind between 10 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
- Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67.
- Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny and breezy, with a high near 87.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 65.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
- Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66.
- Friday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.